The alchemy of trendy and moneyed on Robertson Boulevard

January 23, 2011

Photo of The Ivy courtesy of chrisyunker on Flickr Creative Commons

LOS ANGELES, CA – If Rodeo Drive is a little bit “fancy” (i.e., prim and proper), and Melrose Avenue is a little bit “rock-’n-roll” (i.e., indie), then Robertson Boulevard is a modern day mash-up.  The stretch of boutiques between Beverly and Wilshire Boulevards has all the moneyed, celeb glory of Beverly Hills combined with the spunky, trendy patina of Melrose.

With this collision of elements, it’s no wonder Robertson has become LA’s shopping “village” par excellence.  It’s all here:  the trendiest of trendy boutiques, starlets on the shop, wannabe celebs hoping to match their fashions, and hefty paparazzi outfits bristling with telephoto lenses.  You really can’t say you’ve shopped in LA until you’ve gone on the hunt for the ultimate pair of jeans amidst the madness.

So what about the goods?  Offerings range from flash-in-the-pan fashion statements to established designers and the avant-garde.  Many of the same designer flagships from Rodeo (like Chanel) have set up shop here, but it’s the trendy upstarts like Kitson, Intermix, Lisa Kline, Alice + Olivia, Rock & Republic, Tory Burch, AG, Paul & Joe, and Nanette Lapore that give Robertson its ultra au courant character.

Celeb spotting is almost a guarantee here–this is the street where they step out if they want to be seen.  Paris, Lindsey, Britney…the whole freshman (and sophmore) class of starlets call this their second home.  Lunch at The Ivy restaurant is practically required eating.  Celebs hold court on the patio, which itself is a little bit country (white picket fence) and a little bit rock-’n-roll (music makers Usher and J. Lo have been known to pop in).

Though it’s not exactly the place for bargain hunting, there are deals to be had.  High-end Melrose shop Maxfield runs discount outlet Maxfield Bleu here.  If you just want to say you bought something on Robertson but can’t be bothered with all the frills, you can always grab a basic tee at the outpost of American Apparel.  And the free samples of skincare products at Kiehl’s are definitely worth the visit (and hands down the only free things you’ll find in the district!).

Fittingly for a street on the cutting edge of fashion, Robertson is dotted with “concept stores.”  More than just mere containers for merchandise, many of these stores are full-on theatrical experiences.  The Gap 1969 Concept Store houses the iconic label’s premium denim, while the Armani Exchange Concept Store showcases art and events alongside the duds.  It’s all part of the mix of artful striving and crass consumerism (and celeb voyeurism) that make Robertson a shopping playground with something for everyone.

Robertson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Map

RL contributed to this post

Read more about Robertson Boulevard on The Purple Passport